LAKE FOREST, Ill. – Caleb Williams is constantly in the process of identifying mistakes and correcting them. The goal is to be better the next snap, the game, to be crisper or smarter or faster in his efforts to help the Bears win.

There is a difference, however, between short-term goals and long-term projects. There’s a place for the big-picture stuff in his in-season notes, a list of things he wants to devote significant time to this offseason.

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There are 5-8 items currently on it that he’ll address when there’s time to take a deep dive into them. That could include research and intense film study on defensive concepts and tendencies, fronts and protections. It might include progressions and techniques to work on in the lab.

“There are moments, or just things that I don’t know that I wanna research more and learn more about,” Williams said in an introspective Wednesday press conference. “So, taking small notes throughout the season and not trying to remember everything at the end of it is something I’ve done this year. I started midway through the year, marking down some stuff that I want to get better at, stuff that I want to learn.

“And, obviously, I’m finding ways to still be in the moment, stay in the moment, but understand that I gotta grow and progress to be able to help this team and the Chicago Bears to grow and reach our goals and my goals, which is winning games, winning big games, being in those big games and coming out victorious.”

Williams has applied this dual perspective to most everything he has experienced this season. That obviously includes on-field self-improvement. It also includes his experiences of the season. There was emotion involved in the Matt Eberflus firing and the fire drill of what happens next, but Williams also said he wanted to take in the entire thing so he could be well prepared if it were to happen again in his career.

He called it a “steppingstone of development” at the time, yet another learning experience as he tries to develop into everything that’s required to be an NFL quarterback. There’s so much involved in it, from on-field technique and performance to the business side of life to being the public face of an NFL franchise.

That involves being in the moment while also viewing the world from 30,000 feet. That’s not easy. It also doesn’t create distance from the present, either, as Williams has learned during a eight-game losing streak that has been trying even when chronicling the experience for the future.

“Losing is one of those things that really affects me,” Williams said. “It’s tough. But I do have the understanding of where I’m at in my career and where I’ll be at. Having that understanding is important for me, myself internally, because internally it’s tough. Internally, when tough times happen, just human nature is to do the opposite of what you’re doing or what you’ve been doing and all these different things. The toughest part is fighting yourself, especially when there’s tough times.”

Following the path and trusting the process is difficult when the results aren’t there. It’s also easy to get down when you’re working hard and trying and still not producing at a high level.

Williams has a process for those moments, too.

“This is going to sound crazy, but you talk to yourself, to be honest,” Williams said. “You motivate yourself, you encourage yourself. You have positive affirmations, is the word, that you say to yourself. With that, it makes the days better; when you’re going through a tough patch, it makes those days a little bit easier rather than pulling yourself down, telling yourself you’re this and that.

“Like I said, it sounds kind of crazy, but I tell myself certain things: ‘I am great. I will be great.’ All these different things. So, I think that’s one of the biggest things, is not pulling yourself down and being gracious with yourself.” 

Williams has been able to feel the tough times while not falling into a pattern of all doom and gloom. That’s why DJ Moore praised Williams mental toughness as what has impressed him most. That’s why Thomas Brown isn’t worried about Williams seeing ghosts while taking all these hits. His head is undoubtedly on straight.

“There’s also a lot of progress throughout the season that has happened, through training camp and all that, that has happened,” Williams said. “Having all that in mind, there’s a lot to be optimistic and positive about, because I’m not my best self yet, and that’s soon to come. I’m working toward that every day, and gonna keep working toward that.

“In the grand scheme of it, losing is … I like to win in everything that I do, whether it’s cards, whether it’s playing video games with my friends, football games where we’re in battle and things like that. Anywhere in life, I try to win. When that’s not happening, we’ve gotta find ways to keep going, find ways to keep progressing. That’s been my mindset, is, finding those ways to keep progressing and stay optimistic. Because, at the end of it, whether I’m feeling down, whether I’m feeling like I’m hurting or anything like that, nobody really cares. Being able to keep growing, keep progressing, be optimistic about the good and even about the bad. Because even with the bad, there’s a lot to grow from, and keep growing.”